HC Deb 08 December 1964 vol 703 cc1306-7
13. Mr. Gresham Cooke

asked the Minister of Power what consideration he is giving to the production of electricity through peripheral generators placed in tidal barrages in suitable estuaries, where such barrages could also be used to support roads in place of the construction of bridges.

Mr. John Morris

The possibilities are kept under review, but in the most promising such scheme proposed in this country, the Central Electricity Generating Board estimates the cost of generating electricity would not be competitive.

Mr. Gresham Cooke

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that electricity is generated by tidal power in France and that there are schemes for doing the same thing in America? Further, is he aware of the excellent research done at Sheffield University which shows that the new type of generators could generate electricity at ½d. a unit? Is it not madness to have these millions of horse power of tidal power going to waste around our shores?

Mr. Morris

As the hon. Gentleman is aware, there are real fundamental engineering difficulties here. The main engineering problems are silting up of the barrage basin and hindrance to navigation. Another problem is that power is not always produced when it is needed.

The hon. Gentleman referred to a scheme in France. There are differences here. The French scheme operates in particularly favourable circumstances. It has been possible to extend the normal tidal power cycle there by adding a pumped storage scheme, but this could not be done effectively in the most favourable place in this country, namely, the Severn Estuary.